The Amen Corner

Believing God

It is fundamental to us that the believer is born of God (1st Jn.5:1). The believer, according to the written words testimony, “is Passed from death unto life”. In other words we believe what the scripture teaches that the “believer” is in procession of eternal life and NOT being persuaded in that direction, but he being a believer, is evidence of the New Birth. There is no argument to be made on that proposition. But, it is one thing to be a believer in God and quite another to “believe God”.
The bible tells me in Romans chapter four that “Abraham BELIEVED GOD and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Rm.4:3). Paul took a journey to Rome and during the journey the ship he was on encountered a great storm and many of the things that they carried on the voyage had to be cast over-board and the bible tells us that “the sun nor the stars appeared for many days” (Acts 27:20) and all hope of surviving seemed to be given up by the crew. But Paul said to them, “Sirs, be of good cheer” and no doubt that was a hard pill for them to swallow at the time. The ship may be lost but not a man shall perish. The angel of the Lord had stood by him that night and had given him an assurance that ultimately all would be well.
Verse 25 gives us this statement from Paul, like it was said of Abraham. “Sirs Be of good cheer, FOR I BELIEVE GOD, that it shall be even as it was told me” – Not to believe in God but rather to “Believe God.” Believe that His word carries with it a guarantee of fulfillment; He shall be faithful to his word; He shall bring to pass all his purpose has ordained; He cannot fail in his promise; He will not withdraw from the commitment. My friend, we can BELIEVE GOD today. We can rely on His glorious commitment. Our faith ought to be centered in his promise rather than on the storm. I concede it is a difficult task for the child of God at times in our trials and afflictions, but my prayer is that God will bless us this day with an increasing FAITH to say “Sirs, I BELIEVE GOD”. AMEN and God bless you this day.

Elder R.D. Harcrow
Fort Payne, Alabama

Something To Think About

The Fulfillment of Deuteronomy 18:15-19

Deuteronomy 15 “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.”

The fulfillment of prophecy gives the believer (born again Child of God) a presence of hope, contentment, and reassurance when he is able to see its culmination in the scriptures. There are a number of prophecies which can be noted as fulfilled which Jesus Himself spoke of in His own gospel.
Moses was a type of Christ on a number of occasions. HIs prophecy came by the inspiration of God. In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, we find just such prophecy which came true in the very Son of God Himself – Jesus Christ. Notice the words of Peter in Acts 3:22 as he quoted Moses, “For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.”   Before anyone thinks that Moses was like Christ in every aspect, pay close attention to the words “like unto me.” Not, just like me, but “like unto me.” As Moses spoke true prophecy, so Christ would speak true prophecy. As Moses was a leader of Israel, the chosen nation, Christ is the head (leader) of the church, a home for the elect chosen Children of God. Moses led Israel to their natural home, the Land of Canaan, and Christ, by His Spirit, leads us to our spiritual home, the church of the living God. There are many more ways in which Christ was “like unto” Moses. Both Moses and Christ were law-givers, and, they were both mediators.
How then can we know that a prophet was indeed a true prophet? The answer is in Deuteronomy 18:22, “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” In Deuteronomy 34:9-11 we find a rendering of where Moses laid his hands upon Joshua to signify that he would follow him as prophet and leader of Israel. However, Joshua was not the one of which Moses had spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Notice, when Moses was speaking of Joshua in verse 9 of chapter 34, he followed it by saying, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face…” This proves that Joshua was not the one Moses had spoken about in Deuteronomy 18, neither were others such as David, Isaiah, or Daniel.
There could be only one “like unto me” (Moses), and that would be the one which Peter recognized as the fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy. Peter said in Acts 3:18, “But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” Then in verse 20 he said, “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:..”
When we see such bold expressions we should in all sincerity and humbleness, believe them as the truth they are. Luke shares this of our Lord right after His resurrection in Luke 24:25, “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:..” Jesus reminded the Jews, who were nigh to persecute Him, of this, “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46-47). Simply put, we are not to be as the unbelieving Jews. “Think About It!”

Elder Bobby Willis
Editor, ShareTheWord
Mobile, AL.

Something To Think About by Elder Bobby Willis

Covetousness – Selfish and Self-Serving

King Solomon, in the book of Ecclesiastes, discussed various ways in which man pursues happiness, one of which is the goal of material wealth. Surely if man can gain great riches, contentment and satisfaction will be theirs. Not so!
Solomon worded it this way in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” The thought remains that great riches breeds greed and a spirit of covetousness prevails. On the way up the ladder of self-serving material wealth, one often sees what others have and covets it rather than being content with what they have. Oftentimes, it means stepping on others in their attempt to be self-serving.
Those who hoard their riches instead of using it wisely as good stewards in the Kingdom of God, often grieve over what will become of their riches when they die. Solomon addressed this in Ecclesiastes 5:15, “As he came forth of his mother’s womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.” The common saying is ‘You can’t take it with you!’
Our mind goes to the parable of “a certain rich man” whose ground had “brought forth plentifully” (Luke 12:16). The fields of this “rich man” had produced so much that his barns could not hold all of it. So he said, “This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods” (Luke 12:18). The mindset of this rich man was to sit back and admire his great fortune and take his ease. He told himself, “…take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (vs. 19).
Notice closely what God said unto him, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (vs. 20). It is far better to remember where our blessings come from. Paul affirmed this teaching in I Timothy 6:10. He never said that money within itself is evil, but rather “…the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” What happens is that in the pursuit of great riches, one often forgets to remain faithful to the church and serving God as he should, or, doesn’t serve Him at all.
Bottom line: If you are rich in earthly goods, praise the Lord and thank Him often for all of His blessings. Reach out to those who are in honest need and sincerely need your help. If you don’t have much in the way of material things, do not spend your time in coveting what your neighbor has or in serving self. Our priority should be to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). God may not supply all of your wants, but He will take care of your needs. “Think About It!”

Elder Bobby Willis
Editor, ShareTheWord
Mobile AL.

Something To Think About by Elder Bobby Willis

Something To Think About:
by Elder Bobby Willis … 3-2-15

Romans 4:7, “…Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

There is no better situation for a child of God than to realize how blessed they are. Sometimes we run into someone who is forever dealing with their troubles and complaining about their status in life.  But when you meet those who realize the blessings of God, they are a joy to be around. Such are those whom Paul is speaking of in Romans 4:5-8.  These four verses deal with what the Lord has done for us that we could not do for ourselves for we have no righteousness of our own.  Can we do good works? Yes, as we are instructed to “do good unto all men” (Galatians 6:10), we are told to “put on the armour of light” (Romans 13:12), and like Christ, to “Be ye holy; for I am Holy” (I Peter 1:16).  Even when we do the best we can, we still come short of being truly righteous. What we needed was to be cleansed, therefore, the Lord washed us in the blood of the Lamb.  This is taught in Romans 4:7 where Paul said our “iniquities are forgiven.” Jesus has paid the price we could not pay.  What joy and comfort this is to the children of God. Paul went on to say, “…whose sins are covered.” Paul was quoting the psalmist David from Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” and Psalm 85:2 which says, “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.”
We should thankful we worship a Lord that was willing and able to accomplish that which the Father sent Him to do for all those given to Him in the Covenant of Grace.  Now, if you really get down in the dumps and need something far better than Geritol or any other man made tonic, then read Romans 4:8 over and over.  “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” To “impute” means to ‘charge with’.  What a blessing to realize that God does not “impute” sin to His born again children.
Paul reminds us that we are no longer under the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2), “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  When we are born of the Spirit, we then come under God’s parental law.  That is why, as His children, we face chastisement in this life, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6).  Sin will not be imputed (charged) to God’s children eternally as the righteousness of Christ has been imputed (imparted) to us.  These wonderful truths give us peace and comfort.  May you feel blessed this day in knowing what the Lord has done for you.  Think About IT!

Elder Bobby Willis

Mobile, AL.

***********

Something To Think About by Elder Bobby Willis

Something To Think About:  3-17-14
I John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (KJV)

I have known a few people over the years that declared they were sinless after giving their life to Christ and being baptized.  One man told me it had been two years and he had not sinned during that time.  My response?  You just did!  Either that man was true, or John was true as he wrote the inspired Word of God.  Guess which one!  They both were sinners, yet John knew he was a sinner saved by Grace.

Elder Bobby Willis, Editor – ShareTheWord, Mobile, AL. 

*******

Morning Devotion by Eld. Danny Ferrell

Morning Devotion:      3-17-14

Pride

Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pride is the doorway to the Pharisaical trap that closes off all instructions because the Pharisee is confident in their own wisdom. That haughty spirit elevates our thoughts of self so high that reality will soon bring it crashing down.
Brother Danny
Elder Danny Ferrell
Mt. Moriah PBC, Possum Trot, KY.

*******

The Pastor’s Trumpet by Eld. J.C. Stanaland

Notes From The Pastor’s Trumpet:    3-17-14

“hath the Father also”

I John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

The Triune God is difficult for us to comprehend; nevertheless, it is so. Three times in the Scripture we are told that “God is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; Galatians 3:20). John describes it this way, “there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one” (I John 5:7). Thus, to deny either of the Three is to deny God. Because “God is one”, to truly acknowledge “one” is to acknowledge all Three. Furthermore, it is irreverent and “antichrist” to deny the Triune God. In this context, John focuses upon acknowledging “the Son” and “the Father”. Because of His “great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4), our “Father” sent His “Son” to sacrifice Himself to pay the sin-debt that we could not pay (John 9:4). So perfect was our Lord’s sacrifice that He declared, “this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39). I know that it is so, but it is hard to comprehend a “love” so great toward me that our Heavenly “Father” would send His “beloved” “Son” to give His precious life for me and that the “Son” was willing to do it! — Oh, let us all daily “call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised” (Psalm 18:3)!

Pastor’s Trumpet Archive
St. Andrew Primitive Baptist Church Website

Elder J.C. Stanaland
St. Andrew PBC, Panama City, FL.

*******

Food For Thought For Your Week by Eld. Clayton Nowell

Food For Thought For Your Week”    3-17-14

Dear Ones,
The value of reading the scriptures cannot be emphasized enough; and especially, taking time to meditate on what was read. As you read a passage, try to visualize the concepts of truth that you can carry with you throughout your day. If you can do this, it may stay with you for a lifetime. Regardless, you have fed your soul on something good. It has been said that “digestion is to the body what meditation is to the soul.” If the body doesn’t properly digest the food taken in, there is little benefit. So also, if we do not pause and consider what we have read, there is very little opportunity for the Holy Spirit to connect those scriptures to others or open to us how it may apply to our experiences.
For instance, consider Psalm 1, verses 1-3 which say, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” The person who lives as one “in” this world but aware that he is not “of” this world, who is looking to the Lord for instruction and guidance, who is not allowing ungodly influences and companions to turn him aside and reshape his thinking, and who purposely heeds the word of the Lord daily, this person will be “like a tree” planted (i.e., grounded and settled), fruitful (because the Spirit of the Lord is nourishing and feeding), undaunted (because “living water” of the Spirit is always refreshing the soul and renewing the inner man), and prospering (growing according to the leading of the Spirit into those areas that will be the most beneficial for your life and happiness).
What a thought to carry with you! But what if you read this wonderful passage hurriedly and didn’t pause to consider the impact it could have on your future by taking heed to its instruction? But rather, by continuing in the Spirit, availing ourselves to the word of the Lord, and pausing to meditate so the Spirit can open to us more of what the verses mean, we can be more fruitful, we can better withstand the trials of life, and your future can be more spiritually prosperous. Friends, take some time for meditation. You will be blessed.

In the love of Christ,
Elder Clayton Nowell
Piney Grove PBC, Headland, AL.

*******

The Spirit of Grace by Eld. Mike Moseley

The Spirit of Grace:     3-14-14

Genesis 2:18,  “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
In the first chapter of Genesis, the phrase “it was good” is repeated seven times.  The phrase means pleasant or agreeable.  Everything God did in creation was according to His pleasure and in agreement with His will.  In chapter 2 we read a detailed account of the creation of man, which occurred last on the sixth day.  Herein we find the only time God said, “It is not good” during creation.  God had not made a mistake; rather, this is said so we might know that God was not pleased to leave the man without a wife.  This is the first marriage.  God designed marriage to be a picture of Christ and His Bride, those He loved and gave Himself for (Ephesians 5).  Notice two points in this first marriage that declare the relationship between Christ and His Bride.  First, the woman was “in” the man before she existed.  God took a rib from the man, and made a woman.  We were “chosen in [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).  Secondly, God gave the woman to the man.  She didn’t seek him out or choose him.  So it was with Christ and His Bride.  We did not seek Him first.  We didn’t choose Him; The Father gave us to Christ.  Christ said that He gives “eternal life to as many as [The Father] hast given him” (John 17:2), and would lose nothing of all which He was given (John 6:39).  God chose us in Christ, gave us to Him as a Bride; and “God saw that it was good”.  His Bride will, without fail, be with Him forevermore.  Amen!

Elder Mike Moseley
Grace PBC, Houston, TX. 

*******

Something To Think About by Eld. Bobby Willis

Something To Think About:      3-13-14

Isaiah 62:11, “Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. vs 12.. and they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.”
What a wonderful revelation to the children of God. The Lord Jesus is coming back for his children because He is our salvation. Do not misunderstand the reward that is with him. Our eternal life is an inheritance, not a reward. It says, “his reward”. His reward is the completion of the work which God had given him to accomplish to God’s satisfaction. The work that is before him is a completed work of Redemption. At the grand Resurrection, we will be changed to the image of the Son, and taken to Paradise to sing praises unto His name forevermore. The name “The holy people” which will be given unto us is due totally on the imputed righteousness of Christ. Paul said, “I am what I am by the grace of God.”

Elder Bobby Willis, Editor, ShareTheWord, Mobile, AL.

*******

My Morning Prayer by Eld. Ronnie Loudermilk

My Morning Prayer:     3-13-14

Proverbs 15:1-2, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievious words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

My prayer this morning is that we would all consider the effect, both positive and negative, that the words of our tongue can have. It is important to continually remind ourselves that even small stones cast in a pond make ripples that will eventually come ashore. In James chapter three we read of three things that seem to be small, but have a great effect. In verse three we read about “bits” that are put in “horses’ mouths” that will cause the strong beasts to “obey us”. In verse four we read about “a very small helm” that can cause a great ship to turn “withersoever the governor listeth”. And in verse five we read about a “little fire” that is able to destroy a huge forest. Even so brethren and sisters, the words of our tongue, which seem to us to be very insignificant at times, can have a giant effect. Let us meditate before we speak, keeping in mind Proverbs 18:19, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city.”

Elder Ronnie Loudermilk
Mt. Paran PBC, Monroe, GA.

*******

The Pastor’s Trumpet by Eld. J.C. Stanaland

Notes From The Pastor’s Trumpet: 3-13-14

“a day in thy courts”

Psalm 84:10 “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

There is no better place to be than to be in the “courts” of the Lord; in a place where the presence of the Lord is clearly felt; especially, in Church on the Lord’s Day. Being in Church on the Lord’s Day “is better than a thousand” days spent in the most happy activity this present world can afford. The point is, there is nothing better than being in Church where the Lord wonderfully reveals His presence. The Psalmist declares that he would rather have the lowest position in the Church (“a doorkeeper in the house of my God”) than to enjoy the carnal joys of the world (“dwell in the tents of wickedness”). He then tells us why: “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11). Therefore, let us not be distracted by the carnal joys and cares of this world, but focus upon the spiritual joys of the “courts” of the Lord and faithfully assemble ourselves to worship Him, seeking only to “be a doorkeeper in the house of my God”.

Pastor’s Trumpet Archive
St. Andrew Primitive Baptist Church Website

Elder J.C. Stanaland
St. Andrew PBC, Panama City, FL.

*******

Something To Think About by Eld. Bobby Willis

Something To Think About: 3-12-14

Proverbs 20:6, “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?”

It seems a daunting task for mankind to not be boastful of our own deeds when they are good. Our fleshly nature wants credit for what we have accomplished, even to the point of telling others in order to receive praise. Solomon listed six things which the LORD hateth; “A proud look” was one of them (Prov. 6:16-17). “A faithful man” is one who desires the Lord Jesus to be esteemed and His name to be lifted up and not his own.

Elder Bobby Willis
Editor: ShareTheWord, Mobile, AL. 

*******

Morning Devotion by Eld. Danny Ferrell

Morning Devotion: 3-12-14

I Went Astray

Psalm 119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

We may find our life under affliction and wonder where we strayed away from God. As we retrace our steps we find we went astray when we were at ease and allowing our life to drift, paying no attention to where we were going. So in the affliction we return to God’s word. Then we can thank God for the affliction that brought us to the good way.
Brother Danny
Elder Danny Ferrell
Mt. Moriah PBC, Possum Trot, KY.

*******

The Pastor’s Trumpet by Eld. J.C. Stanaland

Notes From The Pastor’s Trumpet:  3-12-14

“a liar denieth that Jesus is the Christ”

I John 2:22 “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

The rhetorical question, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?”, is asked to strongly emphasize that anyone “that denieth that Jesus is the Christ” “is a liar”! There are many ideas about who Jesus Christ is. These ideas vary widely from atheists, who deny God in general, to the view of those who believe that Christ was simply a man or some angel with some godly attributes. The devil knows exactly who “Jesus” is and he hates Him and employs his substantial powers to hinder our belief “that Jesus is the Christ”. To either blatantly or subtly deny “that Jesus is the Christ” is to tell the worst possible lie. In our ‘modern’ day, the truth of Jesus Christ is publically under attack and the deniers go to great effort to strike his name from public view. We must not become discouraged, disoriented, or frightened by the vicious attacks from those deny “that Jesus is the Christ”. We are commanded to “be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).

Pastor’s Trumpet Archive

St. Andrew Primitive Baptist Church Website

Elder J.C. Stanaland
St. Andrew PBC, Panama City, FL.

*******